CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
December 15, 2024
Let Us Go and See
Luke 2:8-15
We continue a familiar theme. For the third week in a row, we read that an
angel of the Lord appeared out of nowhere to make an announcement. The
angel that appeared to Zechariah and Mary told them his name was Gabriel.
On this occasion, as was the case with the angel in Joseph’s dream, it simply
says an angel of the Lord appeared. In a period of just over a year’s time, an
angel appeared in one way or another four different times. It is obvious
something major was about to happen. On all four occasions those involved
were just minding their own business. They had not been seeking the Lord’s
help or direction in ways different from the past, but in all four cases an
angel appeared without warning and out of nowhere.
In every case, God had a specific reason for sending his angel to those
involved. With Zechariah and Elizabeth, the prayers they had been lifting up
to the Lord for years was finally going to be answered. Elizabeth would have
a son. He would be special to what God was about to do on behalf of all
creation.
With Mary and Joseph where we have a couple that was looking forward to
marriage and a family. They were two good and honorable people beginning
their lives together. But before they really started their lives together, God
was going to use them in ways they never dreamt could happen. The angel
came to both Mary and Joseph in different ways and at different times to
explain God’s plans for them and the son that they would raise.
Now we have a third time the angel came to speak to people who would
have never believed such a thing could happen. On this evening, we have
shepherds doing what they probably had done hundreds of times before.
They were on a hillside or a pasture keeping an eye on a flock of sheep. I am
sure it seemed like just another night. They may have been on guard to
make sure no wolves snuck in to get any of the sheep, but otherwise just
another night. But then their lives changed and the whole world was about
to change forever as well. Here we have shepherds watching their sheep
when suddenly out of nowhere someone else was there with them. This was
not some ordinary looking stranger either.
When the angel appeared to Zechariah and to Mary there is no mention of
anything special about him other than his sudden appearance. Something
was different this time. We are told that when the angel appeared the glory
of the Lord shown around them. Out on that dark hillside or pasture it
sounds like a visible sign of something special was there before the
shepherds’ eyes. As soon as the angel told the shepherds what was
happening and why he was there, things got even more exciting. As soon as
the angel finished telling the shepherds that the Savior of the world had just
been born in Bethlehem, it says a great company of the heavenly host was
there with the angel as well. We are told what the heavenly host proclaimed
but we aren’t told how they really did it. When you read of this event or
have heard it told, how do you picture it? Do you see them standing next to
the angel or do you think of them as suspended in air just above the
shepherds? Are they saying these words or in some way singing this great
announcement to all who could hear? It would appear that as quickly as the
angel and this heavenly host appeared, they were gone. If somehow, some
way something like this happened to you, what do you think you would do?
Would you believe your eyes and ears or would you think you had been out
away from people with the sheep for too long? The scripture tells us they all
agreed that they should go and see if what they were told was really true.
Have you ever been told by someone of something out of the ordinary that
you felt you had to go and see if it was really true?
I hate to admit this but as I thought about that one thing instantly came to
mind. In 1974 many of you remember Cerro Gordo had one of the best small
school basketball teams in the State of Illinois. Cathy and I were dating and
had just gone with some others to one of the Cerro Gordo basketball games.
That particular game was an away game so after the game was over, we had
come back to Cerro Gordo. Before I go any further, I will admit what Cathy
either is already thinking or will be in a minute or 2, the things I should
remember I do not and the things that are not important or I should forget I
seem to remember. On with the story. When we got back to Cerro Gordo,
we were told by some kids about something that was supposed to happen
at Millikin University. So, we loaded up and went in to see if it was true.
During the mid-70s, there was an insane craze that swept across many cities
in America, especially on college campuses – streaking! Any of you
remember that? There were supposed to be some college kids streaking
there at Millikin. For those who don’t know what that means, you take off all
your clothes and then go run on the streets. Sure enough, there were some
who were actually streaking on this rather warm February evening.
Hopefully you have thought of some better, more meaningful examples of
what you may have been led to go and see as I have shared this rather silly
example.
The shepherds faithfully went to Bethlehem and found the place where
Jesus had been born. Everything was just as they had been told. They knew
they had been blessed in ways no one else would ever be blessed. Of all the
people God could have revealed this historic event to, he chose shepherds.
Shepherds were not the most respected people. They clearly were not
respected like priests or kings or even shop keepers, but God chose
shepherds to be the first to witness this history changing event. They had a
choice. They could have said, “I am not going into town. It is late, I am tired
and it is too far.” But they didn’t. They believed they had been given a
special gift and they had to see for themselves.
God is still asking people to come and see. Maybe we will never have Gabriel
come and announce something special to us, but the Holy Spirit is still calling
us to come and see. The Bible says after the shepherds left, Mary, Joseph
and the baby Jesus returned praising and glorifying God. I am sure they told
everyone they saw from that day forward of the special blessing God had
given them. There are several things that we can learn from this event.
1. Nothing is impossible for God.
2. God will do exactly what he says he will do.
3. Everyone is special to God.
After 2000 years, God is still calling out to this world to come and see.
Pastor Larry
Announcements:
Sunday School 9:00
Tuesday 9:30 Bible Study
Today Advent special offering—envelopes are in back
Tuesday, December 17 7:00 pm Christmas service
December 31 Due date for submissions for the
January/February newsletter
January 2, 2025 Board Meeting—Commissions 6:00; Board
6:30 p.m.
Pastor Larry Traxler (217) 454-2362
First Sundays: Food Bank donations
Keep in Your Prayers
Lois Day family; Rick and Debbie Chestnut; Shirley Krall;
Bobby’s father; Ruth Siburt; Dorthea Wood; Mike and Kathy
Gentry; Paul Kohler; Steve Needham; Larry Traxler; Nancy
Fansler; Stacie Warren; Nancy Gorrell; Nora Hanaver; Ron and
Kathleen Petersen; Doug Larrick; Shirley Clarkson; David and
Jan Bower; Debbie Garvey Leibrock; Mike and Carol
Seidenstricker; Adiline Young; Mayo and Darlene Hanaver;
many unspoken requests; victims of shootings and of natural
disasters; shut-ins; the Nigerian church; the Haitian church;
those in the middle of war and violence; military and other
services and their families; Brethren Volunteer Service workers;
Disaster project workers; victims of Helene and Milton
District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the Hurricane Creek
congregation and for the Church of the Brethren in Venezuela
and Columbia.
